- Workers’ Day Celebration: Prof. Greg Advises Workers Against Political Apathy
A frontline Abia governorship aspirant, Prof Gregory Ibe has promised to implement comprehensive public service reforms in order to enhance the conditions of service for workers in the state.
He also promised to improve the general welfare package of workers in the state if elected governor in the 2023 general elections.
The gubernatorial hopeful in his 2022 Workers’ day message made available to CSUNEWS.ng in Umuahia, called on workers to participate in the elections by ensuring they cast their votes only to deserving candidates
He enjoined them to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards, embark on voter advocacy and actively participate in the electoral process, asserting that “with God a brand new Abia powered by a reformed and viable workforce is possible”.
He extolled the enterprising spirit of the average Abia worker who he described as “resilient, focused and committed”, pledging to partner the organized private sector in formulating strategic policies that will help in fashioning out more job opportunities for Abia youths as a way of curbing the current high rate of unemployment in the state.
Part of the message reads thus, “On this auspicious occasion of commemoration of International Labor Day, I want to specially recognize and celebrate the dogged and enterprising spirit of the Abia Worker, who in spite of the prevailing harsh economic environment has remained resilient, focused and committed, thereby contributing immensely to stabilizing the polity.
“If by the special grace of God and will of the people I emerge Governor in 2023, part of the initial undertakings of our government shall be the implementation of a comprehensive reform of the public service geared towards making the sector proactive, efficient and effective. Deploying the cognate experience and exposure I garnered while working as lead consultant to the federal civil service during the fourth republic, under President Obasanjo, we shall restore the dignity of labor while making the public service engaging, productive and rewarding.
“Against the backdrop of the alarming unemployment rate of 50.07% for Abia state as contained in the National Bureau of Statistics report of 2020, we shall adopt the Demand-Led Approach in tackling this problem by leveraging my academic and professional background as professor of entrepreneurial science to identify the skills needs of employers in both public and private sectors, with the aim of training and empowering our youths to sufficiently fill such gaps.”
He appreciated the Abia state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC) for choosing him among the distinguished persons selected for conferment of special recognition during this year celebration of Worker’s Day and dedicated the awards to Abia Pensioners.
According to him, ”I want to specially appreciate the Abia state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC) for choosing to confer honors on me during this year’s commemoration of Workers Day. In sympathy with Abia Pensioners who recently publicly protested 38-months arrears of unpaid entitlements, I hereby dedicate the awards to them. I want to assure them that I feel their pain while working to deploy our reform template in resolving the pension issue permanently, if by God’s grace and the peoples mandate I become Governor in 2023.”
1st May is the International Labour Day, a special day set aside to recognize and commemorate the struggles and contributions of workers globally. The Federal Government has declared Monday 2nd May as public holiday, to mark the 2022 edition of Workers Day which falls on a Sunday.
